The coach's track record of winning and keeping pitchers healthy hasn't been enough to get him another job.

- Jason Guarente

Palestra memories

ESPN did its "College GameDay" show Saturday from The Palestra in Philadelphia, which brought back a flood of memories this week for many of us.

For those who don't know, the Palestra is a college basketball cathedral that opened in 1927 on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.

It was the home for Big 5 games from its inception in 1956 until the four other schools began playing at their campus arenas.

Like many of you, I watched Big 5 games on Channel 17 with Al Meltzer and Charlie Swift while growing up in Hazleton and dreamed of seeing a game at The Palestra.

That came in 1978 when high school friends who attended La Salle took me to an Explorers game against Notre Dame. When I walked through the portal, I did all I could to keep from gasping. It was more beautiful in person than on TV.

Three years later, I covered my first game there as a Penn State men's basketball beat writer for The Daily Collegian. The Nittany Lions played Temple in the first game of a doubleheader before Villanova met Notre Dame in the second game before a full house.

What a treat it was and has been.

- Rich Scarcella

Walking away

Chris Bala stepped onto the Santander Arena ice Friday night for the first time since he stopped playing during the 2008-09 season.

If Reading Royals coach Larry Courville had his druthers, it wouldn't have taken so long.

Courville occasionally tried to coax Bala out of retirement when his team's roster was depleted.

"I've called him for the last two or three years," Courville said. "He always says, 'I can't make it.' He'd definitely be a guy who could help us."

Bala first left the game in 2007 but twice made comebacks with the Royals over the next two seasons.

During his second comeback, he took a check against the glass that resulted in stitches to his forehead. The forward said he didn't have his body braced properly for the hit.

"I remember saying to myself, 'My body can't do the things my brain thinks it can,' " Bala said. "I need to just step away. It was never for lack of desire. It was one of those grown-up decisions. Discretion is the better part of valor."

Bala, who had 36 goals in 110 games for the Royals, was back at the arena in a suit and tie for his induction into the team's Wall of Honor.

These days, the 35-year-old Pottstown resident only laces up the skates when he's coaching his team at The Hill School.